Public Health in Humanitarian Crises Modules

In this module we will define what we mean by disasters, hazards, risks and vulnerabilities. We look at patterns and trends and understand the role of public health in disasters.

1. Video: Introduction to Public Health in Humanitarian Crisis

2. Reading: Course Schedule Flexibility

3. Reading: Meet Gilbert

4. Video: Introduction to Humanitarian Disasters and Public Health

5. Video: Introduction

6. Video: Disaster Trends

7. Reading: Meet Paul

8. Video: Introduction to the Role of Public Health in Humanitarian Emergencies

9. Video: The Role of Public Health in Humanitarian Emergencies

Module 2: Humanitarian Actors and Coordination

There are many humanitarian actors that play a role in a disaster. This module describes many of them and also looks at various coordination models that are used.

1. Reading: Meet Mija

2. Video: Introduction to Humanitarian Actors and Coordination

3. Video: Humanitarian Actors and Coordination

4. Video: Introduction to Humanitarian Coordination

5. Video: Humanitarian Coordination

6. Video: Humanitarian Coordination Models

7. Video: A Practical Example of Humanitarian Coordination

8. Discussion Prompt: Humanitarian Crises in the News

Module 3: Water and Sanitation

This module describes the burden of, and mechanisms of, sanitation and water-related diseases in humanitarian crises. We also illustrate the various strategies and priorities that can be used to reduce outbreaks of those diseases.

1. Reading: Meet Les

2. Video: Introduction to Water and Sanitation

3. Video: Water and Sanitation

4. Video: Sanitation Options

5. Video: Water Supply Options

6. Video: The Priorities

Module 4: Livelihoods and Food Security in Humanitarian Crises

Disasters affect livelihoods. This module illustrates how and what livelihoods strategies families use to cope with a crisis. We also describe what food security entails and ways to assess it. We look at various livelihoods support programs that can be used in disaster settings.

1. Video: Introduction to Livelihoods and Food Security

2. Video: Livelihoods and Food Security in Humanitarian Crises

3. Video: Food Security

4. Video: Livelihoods Support Programming

5. Discussion Prompt: Your Reaction

Module 5: Nutrition in Humanitarian Crises

This module looks at who is at risk to become malnourished in a disaster context and why that is the case. We will describe various types of malnutrition, the treatment and various preventative actions.

1. Video: Introduction to Nutrition in Humanitarian Crises

2. Video: Nutrition in Humanitarian Crises

3. Video: A Case Study in Malnutrition

4. Video: Types of Malnutrition

5. Video: Treatment and Prevention of Acute Malnutrition

6. Discussion Prompt: Acute Malnutrition

Module 6: Management of Diseases in Humanitarian Crises

This module examines the patterns of disease in affected populations. We will understand how the changes in population characteristics as well as life styles have changed the nature of the burden of disease populations from that of predominantly communicable to a pattern of non-communicable diseases.

1. Video: Introduction to Management of Diseases in Humanitarian Crises

2. Video: Management of Diseases in Humanitarian Crises

3. Video: Managing an Outbreak of a Communicable Disease

4. Video: Non-Communicable Disease In Disasters

Module 7: Health Care in Humanitarian Emergencies

Disasters put special strains on the provision of health services as demands increase and resources to meet these needs diminish. The six major components of health services may be each damaged in different ways, and all can require urgent attention. This is all discussed in this module.

1. Video: Introduction Health Care in Humanitarian Emergencies

2. Video: Health Care in Humanitarian Emergencies

3. Video: Parts of a Health Service

4. Video: Introduction to Types of Health Services

5. Video: Types of Health Services

Module 8: Shelter in a Humanitarian Setting

In this module we talk about shelter and what it means. We describe how and which shelter solutions contribute towards immediate and longer-term recovery of people affected by disasters.

Many disasters cause populations to be displaced. The module on the protection of displaced populations explores the international protection of individuals in relation to public health, human rights, and international humanitarian law.

The potential for future disasters is great, and each having important public health components. New resources and new approaches will be needed to address these disasters and to help countries to recover economies and livelihoods. This module discusses the challenges and future directions in humanitarian assistance.